The Bastrop Advertiser (Bastrop, Tex.), Vol. 154, No. 20, Ed. 1 Saturday, May 5, 2007 Page: 1 of 11
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CYAN magenta
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SATURDAY, MAY 5, 2007
500
"ChE JBastrop adncrtiscr
Texas' Oldest Weekly Newspaper Since March 1, 1853 Semi-Weekly Since Sept. 5, 1977
Volume 154, Number 20
Bastrop, Texas
20 pages in two sections plus insert
ouncil to weigh sa es tax break
By Davis McAuley
Editor
For the first time this week the
Bastrop City Council publicly sig-
naled a willingness to consider a par-
tial sales tax rebate to encourage addi-
tional retail activity in the city. The
move came late Tuesday following a
closed door meeting with attorneys
and with a group of developers who
are interested in a site on Texas 71
near its intersection with FM 969.
The proposed development, called
Burleson Crossing, could include
some 600,000 square feet of retail
space including a Lowe's building
and home improvement store, accord-
ing to materials on display at City
Hall prior to the councirs executive
session.
When the council emerged from
behind closed doors Mayor Tom Scott
said the council is supportive but
remains divided over "the level of
city participation in regard to this
project."
Scott also said the council wants
City Manager Mike Talbot to meet
with the developers "to negotiate an
agreement and bring (it) back for
council consideration."
Any deal for Burleson Crossing
could mean millions of dollars in
sales tax rebates over a term of years.
Prior to Tuesday's session, Council
Member Terry Sanders said some $8
million sought by developers would
be too much for him to support. In a
later interview, Talbot said the total
request from developers could add up
to more that amount.
This week Talbot declined to say
how much latitude the council gave
him to negotiate a deal.
Any deal to rebate some sales tax
collections would have to be tied to
a careful accounting of how much in
new sales taxes the new shops bring
in, Talbot has suggested previously.
The rebated taxes would also go to
pay for infrastructure improvements
which directly benefit the public, such
as new roads or utility extensions, he
has said.
Sales tax rebate agreements, vir-
tually unheard of a decade ago, are
now common in growing communi-
ties around Central Texas, and large
retail project developers are coming
to expect them from local officials,
according to the City Manager. Similar
agreements have been struck in Kyle,
Buda, Round Rock and Georgetown,
said Talbot.
For Bastrop, such a deal would be
a first, however.
But the city will risk none of its
own money directly, Talbot said.
Sales tax rebates, if they materialize,
will reimburse developers for costs
already incurred, he said. That means
key terms of any agreement should
spell out how much of additional tax
collections will be subject to rebate
and over what period of years.
Some cities have agreed to rebate
See TAX, Page 2A
Bastrop
awaits
disaster
decision
By Davis McAuley
Editor
More than a week after 100-
miles-per-hour winds lashed
Bastrop, downing trees and
bringing down power lines,
workers are still cleaning up,
hauling branches and tighten-
ing emergency response plans.
Meanwhile city and county
officials are still waiting a deci-
sion on whether Bastrop will
be added to a federal disaster
declaration, which was signed
by President Bush on May 2.
That declaration named only
Maverick, Moore and Swisher
counties.
"We're waiting on
FEMA (Federal Emergency
Management Agency) to make
up its mind," said Mike Fisher,
Bastrop County's emergency
management coordinator, dur-
ing a brief meeting of county
commissioners May 3.
In Maverick County and
adjoining areas m Mexico, 10
people died and broad sections
of Eagle Pass were destroyed
when a tornado struck April
25. Early the next morning the
same storm system hit Bastrop.
Officials afterward said there
was no tornado, but wind
speeds approached or surpassed
100 mph, judging by the extent
and types of damage observed,
said Fisher.
In a separate report, Bastrop
See DISASTER, Page 3A
Bastrop Band Bash
msw**
.
m.
K-v
The Bastrop Advertiser photoATerry Hagerty
Members of the Bastrop High School HorieyBears show their leg-kicking agility during a per-
formance at Thursday's First Annual Band Bash at Bear stadium. The fundraiser for the school
district's band programs featured group and solo band and choral performances plus actors from
the film, "Fireflies in the Garden." See story and more photos, Page 12A.
EISD bond
has both
critics and
supporters
By Terry Hagerty
Staff writer
One race for Elgin school board
By Terry Hagerty
Staff writer
Incumbent Robert Mauck said he
decided to seek reelection to the
Elgin school board because the dis-
trict started the push for a bond elec-
tion during "my watch and I wanted
to make sure that it got through. I'm
familiar with what is being recom-
mended."
Mauck, 54, has served for six
years on the school board. He owns
Elgin Wrecker Service and is retired
from the Austin Police Dept. after 26
years of service.
He termed the district's proposed
$44 million bond election, set for
May 12, a "bare-bones basic election
to cover our the demographics we
got coming,'' referring to projected
annual enrollment increases of from
215 to 325 students on top of the cur-
rent enrollment of 3,600.
"We've got growth here, we've
got to plan for the future and it's
cheaper to build (school buildings)
now than four to five years later,"
Mauck said.
Regina Hooten is challenging
Mauck for the District 7 seat on the
board.
Hooten, 54, has 18 years pro-
fessional experience as a teacher
and educational administrator. She
taught junior English for six years at
Elgin High School and has served as
assistant principal in Elgin, Giddings
and Manor.
See RACE, Page 2A
Elgin resident Kurt Nilsson favors passage of
the school district's $44 million bond election on
May 12, but he questions the logic of some previ-
ous district projects.
"I don't doubt they need what they're asking
for," said Nilsson, as he enjoyed his lunch Friday
afternoon at an Elgin Main Street cafe.
But Nilsson said he thought the district
"could be a little more frugal" in how buildings
are constructed.
"There was wasted space in building the cur-
rent high school," Nilsson claimed, citing what
he called expansive hallways. ""It's a big building
and they could have made more classrooms out
of the spaces they have," he said.
On May 12, residents of the Elgin I.S.D. will
vote on three propositions, totaling nearly $44
million. (Early voting has already begun.)
Proposition 1, the largest of the three, calls for
spending $30,205,000 for a new middle school
(grades 6-8th).
Proposition 2 approves spending $7.9 million
for additions to Elgin High School. The additions
include 10 classrooms and six instructional labs
(4 science, 2 computer); a new gym and expan-
sion of the cafeteria, library and administrative
offices.
Proposition 3 approves spending approxi-
mately $5.9 million for "district-wide capital
improvements." Those improvements would
include transportation and maintenance, purchas-
ing land for future facilities, technology. Booker
T. Washington. Neidig and Elgin elementary
schools would also see some upgrades.
Nilsson said growth has hit Elgin "big time."
See EISD, Page 2A
INSIDE
Bastrop, Elgin football faces off in 7-on-7.
Page 10A
WEATHER! INDEX
■ Saturday's forecast:
Mostly cloudy,
rain chance
High: 84°
Low: 72°
Rain: 10%
Last week:
High Low Prec.
Weds. 83 68 none
Thursday 83 63 none
Friday 84 70 none
■ Provided by the KXAN School
Weather Network.
65668 78602
Classified ads......
........2B
Community
6A
Farm&Garden
9A
Letters
4A
Lifestyles
12A
Real Estate
1B
Sports
10A
AUSTIN COMMUNITY itfUSC'XIifl
This newspaper
is recyclable
Prom expenses: who's counting anyway I
By Terry Hagerty
Staff writer
Senior Lori Wilson found a hedge against
what can be significant costs to look good
at Saturday night's Bastrop High School
prom.
"I bought ballet slippers for $12 because
nobody is going to see my feet anyway,"
Wilson said with a laugh.
Since Wilson figures to spend close to
$500 to look snappy for the night at the
Hilton Austin Airport, the savings on shoes
seemed a wise choice.
Her strapless pink dress from Adelle's
Bridal cost $350, she'll spend about $50 for
hairstyles and she added, "I'll spend about
$50 on my fingers and toes, too."
Senior Janae Everhart said she'll spend
close to $400.
She bought a striking teal halter dress
at Austin's Lakeline Mall for $209 and she
figures to spend an additional $150 for hair-
styling and nails.
"I still have to get the boutomiiere for
See PROM, Page 3A
The Bastrop Advertiser photo illustration/Terry Hagerty
Bastrop High School seniors Lori Wilson, left, and Janae Everhart check out
prom dresses at Beads Dept. Store in anticipation of Saturday night's prom.
Some students will spend up to $500 for the evening.
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McAuley, Davis. The Bastrop Advertiser (Bastrop, Tex.), Vol. 154, No. 20, Ed. 1 Saturday, May 5, 2007, newspaper, May 5, 2007; Bastrop, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth252371/m1/1/: accessed July 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Bastrop Public Library.